Shelf clamp



J 0, 3 w. D. COLLINS Er AL 1,914,323

SHELF CLAMP Filed July 14, 1931 u I I A TTORNEY Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES i ATE T oFF cE WILLIAM 1'). COLLINS AND CLYDE E. PLOEGER,-.OF EVANSVILLEINDIANA, ASSIGNORS T SERVEL, rim, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE SHELF onAian-ffli; f,

Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to shelf supports and more particularly to clamping devices for holding refrigerator shelves in place so that they will neither become displaced, vibrate, nor rattle, either in shipment or during operation of the refrigerator.

t is an object of the invention to provide simplemeans for securing a wire shelf to the shelf hooks which support the same, which means may be easily applied or re moved and which may be supplied as auxiliary equipment.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of a refrigerator cabinet showing a shelf and its supporting means in plan View;

Fig. 2, a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. l with a different arrangement of supporting hooks.

Referring to the drawing, a refrigerator cabinet is provided with a liner 11 to which are attached shelf hooks 12 of ordinary construction and which support a ribbon-type wire shelf 13.

In shipment the shelves readily become dislodged and when the machine is operating the shelves sometimes rattle and produce disturbing noises. In order to overcome this difficulty, spring clips or clamps 14 are provided. One clip is preferably provided for cooperation with each shelf hook 12; however, any number desired may be used. Each clip 14 is formed of a substantially U-shaped member with its extremities bent or curved outwardly in order to facilitate application by enabling them to ride over 'the surfaces engaged. They are also preferably of resilient material so that spring tension or pressure is exerted between the supporting hooks and the Wire shelf. The clips 14 are 1931. Serial No. 550,646.

provided with slots to permit them to be applied over the bent extremities of the shelf hooks, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The clips are also preferably of an elongated U-shaped construction as illustrated, though other forms are contemplated by the present invention. In their operative positions, these clips or clamps do not have their jaws spread sufficiently to allow the shelves to spring out of the same, or the parts to accidentally disengage. Clamps at opposite sides of the shelf cooperate to resiliently maintain the shelf in position exerting oppositely directed forces.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes may be made in the construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A support for a refrigerator shelf, a shelf having a bounding frame for resting on said support, a detachable spring clip clamping over said support and a portion of the shelf for securing the shelf and support together, said spring clip being substantially U-shaped and being slotted for the accommodation of the outer end of the shelf support.

2. The combination of a shelf hookhaving an upturned end, a shelf supported by such shelf hook and having a portion extending across said shelf hook, and a slotted spring clip fitting over the upturned end of said shelf hook and resiliently clamping together said shelf support and shelf.

3. The combination of a shelf hook having an upturned end, a shelf supported by such shelf hook and having a portion extending across said shelf hook, and a slotted spring clip fitting over the upturned end of said shelf hook and resiliently clamping together said shelf support and shelf, said clip being substantially U-shaped and having an open side disposed in substantially horizontal position parallel to the edge of the shelf, the upper and lower extremities of said clip being curbed to facilitate application of the clip.

4. The combination of a shelf supporting element, a shelf supported by such element and having a portion extending across said element, and a spring clip fitting over said element and resiliently clamping together said element Said shelf, said p being slotted to receive an end of said element.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signal tures.

WILLIAM D. COLLINS.

CLYDE E. PLOEGERE 

